The National Centre for Early Music is preparing for new year, and not before time you may think. Fear not, this isn't a huge time tabling error, this is the Chinese New Year Festival. Colourful decorations have been specially imported and Chinese students, studying in York, have helped get everything just right to see in the Year of the Dog. York will celebrate the Chinese new year in style with kite workshops, Lion Dancing performances, Chinese Opera and music and craft workshops. Celebrations are being co-ordinated by the National Centre for Early Music with events leading up to a family Chinese New Day Event in the Museum Gardens on Sunday 29 January at 3pm. This will be a colourful spectacle, featuring Korean dancers from the Choi Jung Im Dance Company and the lion dancing dynamic troupe Oceans Apart and Chinese craft stalls. York may be some distance from the Orient, but Melanie Paris, from the National Centre for Early Music, says that's not stopping the celebrations.  | | Chinese kite |
"It's bigger and better than ever. There's lots to do, there are workshops for young children and families, performances of dance and music. A whole range of things to actually celebrate the Chinese new year in the community." As Melanie's comments suggest, this isn't the first time such celebrations have been held in the city. In fact this is the third year the Chinese new year has been marked in York. So, you may wonder, just how authentic is York's celebration? "We've worked very closely with the Chinese community, particularly students who've been very involved. They've advised us, brought us Chinese decorations and they're really central to the activities happening this year." The majority of international students in York are from China, and many are getting involved in the various workshops on offer during the festival. Julia Foo, Chinese officer at York St John, says it's a great way for the students to get to know other people from the city. "I'm very impressed at the response from the local community and organizations. They've been very positive about the celebrations in York with many kids and their parents wanting to participate." So just what can you get involved with during the week long celebrations? - Lantern-Making Workshops for all the family will take place in libraries at Acomb (14 Jan), Tang Hall (21 Jan) and Clifton (28 Jan), and also at the NCEM (29 Jan). Places are limited so early booking is advisable.
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- Chinese kite-making workshops, led by Malcolm Goodman, ‘The Kiteman’ (one of the main organisers of the Sunderland International Kite Festival). These will take place at Tang Hall Community Centre (14 Jan), Clifton Moor Church (14 Jan), NCEM (15 Jan) and St Oswald’s Church Hall (15 Jan).
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- If you've made a kite you can join in the Kite-Flying Spectacular (21 Jan) at Rawcliffe Country Park, Shipton Road and at the New Year’s Day Celebrations (29 Jan) in the Museum Gardens.
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- The UK Beijing Opera Society will be at the NCEM (21 Jan) presenting two short operas and joined by the Silk and Bambo Ensemble for musical interludes. They will also be running music and movement workshops (21 & 22 Jan) at the NCEM.
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- There's the opportunity to listen to the authentic sounds of acclaimed Chinese guitarist Xuefei Yang (28 Jan), who will be performing at All Saints Church, North Street.
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- A food project run by Michael Hjort will take Chinese cuisine into Applefields, Elvington, Lord Deramore’s and Wheldrake Primary Schools. There will be the chance to see the young cooks in action in the Oriental Market (28-29 Jan) at the Coppergate Centre where some of the children will be demonstrating their new cookery skills.
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- Poet to Poet (26 Jan) is a cross-cultural exploration of the links between Chinese and English writing and presented at the Friargate Theatre.
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- Further insight into links between China and the West will be given in Peter Brown’s lecture on 18th Century Chinese Art (26 Jan) which will explore the influence of Chinoiserie on furniture, wallpapers and ceramics.
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All ticketed Chinese Festival events can be booked through the National Centre for Early Music Box Office on 01904 658338 or via the NCEM website. | 
